Gun barrel detaching and retaining device



1958 R. E. ARMBRUSTER EI'AL 2,858,738

GUN BARREL DETACH'ING AND RETAINING DEV ICE Filed July 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l EI iI INVENTORS RALPH E. ARMBRUSTER CHARLES H. SHERERTZ ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1958 R. E. ARMBRUSTER ETAL 2,858,738 GUN BARREL DETACHING AND RETAINING DEVICE RALPH E. AHMBRUSTER CHARLES W. SHERERTZ BY 2,. Wm;

- ATTORNEYS I INVENTQRS Filed July 29, 1957 Nov. 4,1958 R. E. ARMBRus'rER ETAL 2,858,738

GUN BARREL DETACHING AND RETAINING D EVICE RALPH E. ARMBRUSTER CHARLES W. SHERERTZ 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent GUN BARREL DETACHING AND RETAINING DEVICE Ralph E. Armbruster, Alexandria, and Charles W. Sherertz, Arlington, Va., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application July 29, 1957, Serial No. 674,987

6 Claims. e1. 89-14.1) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to gun fittings and more particularly to new and improved means for quickly detaching a water transfer fitting from a water cooled gun and for quickly securing and sealing the fitting thereto during a gun barrel replacement operation. Moreover, during the gun barrel replacement operation, which is necessary periodically due to erosion and wear of the gun barrel, the invention further provides means for retaining the fitting securing means or bolt pins locked in a position to prevent interference or contact thereof with the water jacket of the new gun barrel assembly being attached to the fitting thereby to prevent damage thereto.

Heretofore, a gun barrel replacement operation consumed a considerable amount of time for the reason that it necessitated the removal of a conventional locking bar fastened to the water transfer fitting by at least three small screws and lockwires disposed and confined in an area such as to be almost inaccessible. Also, it was necessary to remove lockwires used to look a pair of threaded bolt pins or fitting securing devices which secured the fitting to the gun. Moreover, after removing the bolt pins from the gun barrel assembly to detach the fitting therefrom no provision was made for preventing the bolt pins and component parts thereof from interfering with the water jacket of a new gun barrel assembly as the fitting was attached thereto. Furthermore, during the removal of the aforesaid small lockwires there existed the possibility that the lockwires or small pieces broken therefrom during removal of the lockwires would fall into an area of closely machined moving elements and thus cause improper functioning thereof or perhaps prevent the operation of those elements altogether.

The present invention is particularly well adapted to overcome the aforesaid and other disadvantages encountered in the prior art devices by eliminating the use of lockwires, locating a single bracket attaching screw in an accessible area, providing positive sealing connection between the gun barrel assembly and fitting and providing positive holding means for the bolt pins and component parts thereof to prevent contact or interference thereof with the water jacket of a gun during a gun barrel replacement operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide new, improved and simplified means for facilitating a gun barrel replacement operation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of new and improved means for sealing and maintaining a positive seal between a water jacket of a gun and a water transfer fitting.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for detachably securing a water transfer fitting to a gun barrel assembly wherein the elements thereof are so disposed as to be readily accessible in the event that a gun barrel replacement operation is necessary.

"ice A still further object of the invention is to provide holding means for maintaining water transfer fitting securing bolts in a position to prevent interference thereof with the water jacket of a gun barrel assembly during a gun barrel replacement operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a gun and a water transfer unit fitting illustrating the new and improved means for quickly detaching and securing the fitting to the gun barrel assembly;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along a line substantially corresponding to line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrates the fitting securing means in a position to secure the water fitting to the gun barrel and locking devices disconnected from the securing means;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrates the fitting securing means detached from the gun barrel assembly and locked in a position to prevent interference thereof with the water jacket of the gun barrel assembly during a gun barrel replacement operation; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the fitting illustrating an alternate arrangement of the fitting securing and locking means of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views and more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates a conventional water transfer fitting comprising a casing 11 and is se-,

cured to a conventional Water cooled gun 12 by the attaching assemblies of the present invention and generally indicated by the numeral 13 whereupon gun barrel replacement may be accomplished in a minimum amount of time and without damage to the water jacket of the gun.

The aforesaid gun comprises a barrel 14 enclosed by Water jacket 15 provided With manifolds 16 and 17, the jacket and manifolds being provided with inner and outer mutually spaced walls 14 and 15', the jacket adapted to be in communication with manifolds 16 and 17 and with suitable ducts 17', as best shown on Fig. 3. Each manifold is provided with an opening 18. The fitting is provided with pipes P secured to the fitting casing by nuts N, the nuts being maintained in a locked condition by lock bar B disposed within groove D provided in protuberance C integrally formed with casing 11. Lock bar B is secured to protuberance C by a single screw 11.

As clearly shown on Fig. 2 each of the assemblies 13 comprises an elongated member or shaft generally indicated by numeral 19 and having one end threaded as at 21 for engagement with an integrally threaded boss 22 formed with manifolds 16 and 17 and extending exteriorly of casing 11 a predetermined amount, the other end of the shaft or bolt being provided with a hexagonal wrench-accommodating surface 23. Each member 19 is further provided with a threaded portion 24 disposed between flange 25 disposed adjacent one end thereof and a flange 26 disposed adjacent the other end thereof. The purpose of the foregoing structure will be more clearly apparent as the description proceeds.

It will be noted that casing 11 is provided with a pair of wells 20, one well being in communication with opening 18 in manifold 16, the other Well being in communication with opening 18 in manifold 17, thereby to establish fluid communication between the fitting and water jacket. 1

understood that by theaforesaid arrangementthe spools 27 maybetmoved slidably on portions 33 andwithin the wells: 20. .Suitable .sealingelements, such, for example, as O-rings 34,orthelikelarecarried bythecasing 11 in sealing engagement-therewith and. with the nipples 29 and cylindrical portions 28zofltheumembers 27. Sealingelements-35- are ,carriedby, each nipplez29in sealing engagement with portions 33 on each pinor bolt 19, the aforesaid sealing arrangement beingmost clearlyillustrated on Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

An O-ring 36 or other suitable sealing .element is arranged in eachofthe openings 18 and-disposed between a flange-37. bordering on the openings and the-lowermost surface of each ofsthe cylindrical portions 28 ofmembers 27. The aforesaid threaded portions 24 of each, pin 19 has threaded thereon anielongated sleeve nut 38 provided on one end with a bearing surface 39, Fig.2. The other end of sleeve nut 38 is provided with apluralityof ,oppo

sitely disposed grooves or slots 41, Figs. l-and; 2,;for receiving aspanner wrench or the liketnot shown). Members 19 are engaged in bosses 22 of manifolds 16 and 17 by means of a suitable wrench (not shown) applied to surfaces 23 sufficiently to cause adequate compression of O-rings 36 between flanges 37 and lower surfaces of members 27. A positive seal is thus established and. is rnaintained by engaging the elongated sleeve nut .38 ,with threaded portions 24-of each pin 19, jamming bearing surface. 39-of sleeve nut.38 .against mating surface of water fitting 10, thereby positively locking pin 19 to manifolds 16 and 17.

During a gun barrel replacement operation a bracket, indicated by the numeral. 42, Figs. 4 and 5, is arranged within groove D. after the lock bar B has been removed therefrom. Bracket 42 is secured to the protuberance C by the aforesaid single screw 11. The bracket 42 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed inclined arms46 each terminating in a horizontal portion 47 and having a lug 48 formed thereon. Theportions 47.are each provided with an opening 49 in alignment With a threaded bore 51 formed in the hexagonal portion'of the bolt 19 individual thereto. A jackscrew 52 is disposed within the opening '49 in each portion Y47 and extends-toward its respective bolt 19 in alignment with the threaded bore 51 therein as is best illustrated in Fig. 4. The jackscrews 52 are threaded into bores 51 of bolts 19 to maintain the boltsand their respective spools 27 in predetermined positions, Fig. 5, thereby preventing interference thereof with the Water jacket of the gun barrel during a gun barrel replacement operation.

Thus, by the aforesaid-arrangement during a gun barrel replacement operation it is only necessary to remove the single screw 11' to detach the locking bar B from member C, the same screw 11' being then employed to attach the bracket 42 to thefitting and within groove G. Moreover, by the aforesaid arrangement with the single screw 11' located in an accessible area directly under the access opening 50 in the conventional shield S, regunning operations may be accomplished in a minimum amount of time and without damage to the water jacket of the gun. As heretofore mentioned, gun barrel replacement operations using conventional equipment consumed a considerable amount of time for the reason that the conventional-lock bar necessitated the use of three screws and lockwires to secure it to member C, two of these screws and their lockwires being located in an area which was almost inaccessible. Moreover, during a gun barrel replacement operation no provisions are made for locking and maintaining the conventional securing means and spool in a position such, that they will not interfere with the water jacket of the gun during gun barrel assembly replacement. The arrangement constructed in accordance with the present invention overcomes all the disadvantages encountered in prior art devices.

As best shown in Figs.- 2, 4 and 5, each of the members or spools 27 is provided with a recess 53 surrounding the lower entrance of bore 32 and of a diameter larger than the diameter of bore 32 to provide a shoulder 54 atthe junction of the bore and recess, the flange on each pin 19 being adapted to seat in the recess 53 in abutting engagement-with the. shoulder 54 of its respective spool 27 to maintain the latter in a predetermined elevated position, Fig. 5, thereby to prevent interference thereof with the water jacket of the gun during a gun barrel replacement operation.

As illustrated on Fig. 5, it will be noted that during the gun barrel replacement operation sleeve nuts 38 are removed. Bolt pin 19 and spools 27 are in a positionthen to provide clearance therebetween and thewater jacket of the gun barrel assembly being attached to the fitting. The bolts 19 are maintained in the aforesaid position by the jackscrews 52 threaded into bores 51, member 27 being 'm'aintainedin the raised clearance position by flanges 25 seated in-recessse 53 in abutting engagement with shoulders-54,-the'flange 26 on each pin .19. being moved into engagement with lug 48 on eachof the arms 46. Lug 48 provides a positive stop for each bolt 19 as well as providing a visual indication that both the bolts 19 and spools- 27 have been raised an amountsufficiently to prevent contact and interference thereof with thewater jacket of the gun barrel assembly during replacement of the assembly.

In the arrangement of Fig.6, the bracket 56 is generally similar'tothe bracket42 and comprises a flat bar orrmembet-indicated by the numeral56 and secured to the protuberance C of the fitting casing 11 by the single screw 11'. The member 56 is provided with a lug 57 similar to lug B, Fig. 2, forengagement with the pipe nuts N and includes a lug 58 disposed adjacent each end, of the member 56. The bolts orpins '19 in this arrangement aregenerally similar to pins 19, Fig. 2, except that in lieu of the threaded portion 24 these vpinsare each provided with an additional flange 61 disposedbetween flanges 25 and 26. Each flange 26. is adapted to. engage a lug 58 when the pins are detached from the water jacket and locked in raised position. I The jackscrews 52 carried by the member 56 and threaded into bores-51. in the pins and the flanges 25 on the pins and seated within recesses 53 in spools 27, it will be understood, function to maintain the pins and spools out of the path of travel of the water jacket of the gun during a gun barrel replacement operation. The flange 61 on each pin is adapted to engage the nipple 29 on each of the spools 27 and compress the O-ring 36 between flanges 37 and the lowermost surfaces of the spools 27 as the pins are threaded into bosses 22, as afore-mentioned in connection with the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 through 5. Thusapositive seal between water fitting casing 11 and the aforesaidwater jacket of the gun is provided.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that new and improved means are provided for quickly detaching a water transfer fitting from a water cooled gun barrel and for quickly securing and sealing the fitting thereto'during a gun barrel replacement operation. Moreover, during gun barrel replacement the invention further provides means for retaining the fitting securing means or bolt pins locked in a positionto prevent interference or contact thereof with the, water jacket of the gun barrel assembly being removed as well as the one being attached to the fitting thereby to prevent damage thereto.

By the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 6, a combination bracket and lock bar is provided whereupon the conventional pipe nuts N are maintained in'a locked condition during gun operation and the pins 19 and spools 27 are locked in a position to facilitate gun replacement without damage to the water jacket thereof.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a water transfer fitting connectable to a manifold of a gun barrel water jacket and having passageways disposed within said fitting in communication with said manifold, of detachable means disposed within said passageways and detachably connected to said manifold for securing the fitting thereto, movable means disposed within said passageways and sealed to said fitting and the detachable means, means on said detachable means in engagement with said movable means for moving said movable means an amount sufficiently to provide a positive seal between said fitting and the manifold at said passageways, and means connectable to said fitting and the detachable means when the detachable means are detached from said manifold for elevating and maintaining said detachable means out of the path of travel of a jacket during a gun barrel replacement operation. 7

2. The combination with a water transfer fitting mountable on a gun having inner and outer mutually spaced walls and a water chamber therebetween with water entrance means formed in said outer Wall in communication with said chamber and with complementary water entrance means formed in said fitting the combination compressing detachable means disposed within said water entrance means in threaded engagement with said inner means carried by said detachable means and disposed within said complementary water entrance means in sealing engagement therewith and with said detachable means, a sealing element disposed between said outer wall and said movable means, means on said detachable means in engagement with said movable means for moving said movable means and compressing said sealing means an amount sufliciently to provide a positive seal between said fitting and the outer wall, bracket means secured to said fitting and spaced from said detachable means, and threaded means carried by said bracket means and connectable to said detachable means when the detachable means are detached from said inner wall for elevating and wall for detachably securing the fitting to the gun, movable maintaining the detachable means out of the path of travel of said outer wall during a regunning operation.

3. A combination in accordance with claim 2 includ ing flange means on said detachable means movable into engagement with said movable means for-elevating and maintaining said movable means out of the path of travel of said outer wall when the detachable means are moved a predetermined amount by said threaded means.

4. A combination according to claim 2 and including stop means on said bracket means, complementary stop means on said detachable means for engagement with said stop means on the bracket when said detachable means are moved a predetermined amount by said threaded means and the movable means are moved a predetermined amount by said flange means thereby giving a visual indication that the detachable and movable means are disposed out of the path of travel.

5. The combination with a water transfer fitting detachably secured to a gun manifold structure, of detachable means in threaded engagement with the manifold structure for detachably securing the fitting thereto, sealing means disposed between said fitting and manifold structure, movable means carried by said detachable means in engagement with the sealing means for sealing said fitting to the manifold structure, means on said detachable means in engagement with said movable means for maintaining said sealing means in engagement with the fitting and manifold structure, and means connectable to said fitting and said detachable means for maintaining said detachable and movable means in'a predetermined position when said detachable means is detached from the manifold structure.

6. The combination with a water transfer fitting for mounting the fitting on a gun, of an elongated bolt detachably connected to said gun for securing said fitting to the gun, a spool in sealing engagement with said fitting and the bolt, a nut threaded on said bolt into engagement with said fitting for locking said bolt to the fitting, and supporting means connectable to said fitting and said bolt when said bolt is detached from said gun for locking and maintaining said bolt and spool in a predetermined position within said fitting.

No references cited. 

